Ceiling air outlet for climate control systems

ABSTRACT

A ceiling air outlet has an elongated supply air chamber comprising a supply air inlet. At least one side chamber is located to the side of the supply air chamber. A nozzle inflows supply air from the supply air chamber into the side chamber. Each side chamber has an associated heat exchanger through which room air is induced into the side chamber as a result of induction. Each side chamber comprises an outlet opening. Each nozzle flows the supply air passing through it horizontally. The ceiling air outlet comprises on the underside facing toward the room to be ventilated, a flat element that covers the ceiling air outlet and is impermeable to air. Each outlet opening is oriented in alignment with its nozzle(s) so that the supply air flowing through each nozzle is not deflected. The room air is induced from above the upper edge of the ceiling air outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY

This application is related to application number 10152562.4, filed Feb. 3, 2010 in the European Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference and to which priority is claims.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ceiling air outlet for climate control systems, for installation at a distance below a room ceiling of a room to be ventilated, having an, in particular, elongated supply air chamber comprising at least one supply air inlet, and having at least one side chamber located to the side of the supply air chamber and separated from the supply air chamber by a partition, at least one aperture, embodied in particular as a nozzle, for the inflow of supply air from the supply air chamber into the relevant side chamber being provided in each partition, and each side chamber having associated with it at least one heat exchanger through which room air is induced into the side chamber as a result of induction by the supply air, and each side chamber comprising at least one outlet opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ceiling air outlets of this kind are known in a variety of embodiments. They are intended to distribute the supply air furnished by an air conditioning system more or less uniformly in the room. Room air is, in this context, induced by the supply air. The outlet openings are located in the region of the underside of the ceiling air outlet. Deflection of the air in the region of the outlet opening is necessary so that the outflowing air is blown into the room over the largest possible area. This results in a pressure loss and in undesired noise generation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to create a ceiling air outlet that eliminates the aforesaid disadvantages and allows blowing to occur with a reduced pressure loss and at the same time with reduced noise generation.

This object is achieved in that each aperture is embodied so that the flow of supply air passing through it occurs at least approximately horizontally; that the ceiling air outlet comprises, on the underside facing toward the room to be ventilated, a flat element that covers the ceiling air outlet on the underside and is embodied to be impermeable to air; and that each outlet opening is oriented in alignment with its corresponding aperture(s) so that the supply air flowing through each aperture is not, at least not substantially, deflected in the associated side chamber, the room air being induced from above the flat element, in particular in the upper region of the ceiling air outlet, for example from above the upper edge of the ceiling air outlet.

In the configuration according to the present invention, the flow of supply air passing through the aperture flows approximately horizontally into the side chamber. Room air is induced in the side chamber. Because each outlet opening is oriented in alignment with its corresponding aperture, no deflection takes place, so that the air (made up of supply air and induced room air) is blown horizontally, at least substantially horizontally, into the room. Air is thus guided into the room laterally out of the ceiling air outlet. The pressure loss is considerably reduced as a result of the configuration according to the present invention, since no deflection is necessary. The surface area gained as a result of the flat element can be used, for example, for insulation.

Each side chamber can be arranged, over its entire height, at the same height as the supply air chamber. It is, however, entirely possible for at least one side chamber to be at the same height as the supply chamber only in a region. The flat element can be of planar configuration.

The outlet opening of at least one side chamber can be embodied as an outlet gap extending over the entire length. A “continuous outlet gap” is also understood as an embodiment in which separating panels, which e.g. carry the flat element, are provided in the region of the outlet gap.

The supply air chamber can have a quadrangular, in particular square, cross section. The supply air chamber usually comprises, in the region of one of its two end faces, a round supply air fitting with which the ceiling air outlet can be connected to a climate control system.

In the context of at least one side chamber, the heat exchanger can be arranged at the upper edge of the side chamber. The heat exchanger can be oriented, for example, horizontally, but also in tilted fashion.

The flow cross section of at least one aperture can be modifiable. A slider that opens up more or less of the corresponding aperture can be provided, for example, for this purpose.

Components such as lamps, fire detectors, or the like can be arranged in the flat element. These can be, for example, recessed into the flat element. It is useful to provide for this purpose, between the flat element and the (preferably centeredly arranged) supply air chamber, a cavity into which the components project. A tube, which is guided through the supply air chamber and projects with one of its ends into the cavity, can be provided for the introduction of, for example, cables or the like.

The ceiling air outlet can be embodied trapezoidally, in particular to be wider at the bottom. Other embodiments are, of course, also possible.

The flat element can be embodied in laterally protruding fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplifying embodiment of the invention is explained below and depicted in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ceiling air outlet according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the end face of the subject matter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the subject matter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section, in direction IV-IV, through the subject matter of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a section in direction V-V through the subject matter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS(S)

Consistent reference characters are used in all the Figures for identical or similar components.

FIGS. 1 through 5 depict a ceiling air outlet according to the present invention that is installed at a distance below a room ceiling 1 of a room to be ventilated. The ceiling air outlet encompasses an elongated supply air chamber 2 that, in the exemplifying embodiment depicted, has a quadrangular cross section. At the right end (as depicted in FIG. 1) of supply air chamber 2 of the ceiling air outlet, a round supply air fitting 3 is provided as a supply air inlet.

As is evident from FIG. 1, in the installed state the ceiling air outlet is in contact at its right end against a room wall 4. The right end of the ceiling air outlet is connected, in this context, to utility lines 5 present on site. The left end (as depicted in FIG. 1) of supply air chamber 2 is of closed configuration. A head part in the form of a panel 6 is provided at this end face. Because panel is embodied to protrude at the top with respect to the general extension of the ceiling air outlet, only the upper edge of panel 6 is in contact with room ceiling 1, while the ceiling air outlet, when considered over its entire length, is spaced away from room ceiling 1.

A respective side chamber 7 is provided on both sides of supply air chamber 2, each side chamber 7 being separated from supply air chamber 2 by a partition 8. In the exemplifying embodiment depicted, it is only in its respective upper region that each side chamber 7 is at the same height as supply chamber 2.

Multiple apertures 9, which are, for example, stamped-out nozzles, are provided in each partition 8 for the inflow of supply air (arrow 10) from supply air chamber 2 into the relevant side chamber 7.

Provided in each side chamber 7, in the region of the upper edge of the ceiling air outlet, is a heat exchanger 11 through which room air (arrow 12) is induced into side chamber 7 by the supply air (arrow 10). In the exemplifying embodiment depicted, room air (arrow 12) is induced in the upper region of the ceiling air outlet, specifically from above the upper edge of the ceiling air outlet. Each side chamber 7 is embodied to be open in the region located opposite supply air chamber 2, forming an outlet opening 13. Each outlet opening 13 of a side chamber 7 is embodied as an outlet gap extending over the length of side chamber 7.

On the underside, facing toward the room to be ventilated, the ceiling air outlet comprises a planar element 14 that covers the ceiling air element on the underside and is embodied to be impermeable to air. In the exemplifying embodiment depicted, flat element 14 is embodied in laterally protruding fashion. In order to enhance stability, separating panels 15, which among other things secure partition 8 with respect to flat element 14, are provided over the longitudinal extension of the ceiling air outlet. The ceiling air outlet has a trapezoidal configuration and is embodied to be wider at the bottom than at the top.

Because side chambers 7 are located at the same height as supply air chamber 2 only in their upper region, a cavity 16 is provided between supply air chamber 2 and flat element 14. This cavity 16 serves to receive portions of components 17, such as lamps fire detectors, sprinklers, or the like, which preferably are arranged centeredly in flat element 14.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 a sprinkler is depicted, for example, as component 17. As is evident from the sectioned depiction, a tube 18 leads vertically through supply air chamber 2 so that one end terminates in cavity 16. This tube 18 is a hollow tube through which, for example, piping for the sprinkler can be guided. In FIG. 4, a fire sensor is depicted as component 17.

Each outlet opening 13 is oriented in alignment with the corresponding aperture 9, so that supply air (arrow 10) flowing through each aperture 9 is not deflected in side chamber 7, and the air (arrow 19) that is made up of supply air (arrow 10) and room air (arrow 12) is to that extent blown horizontally out of the ceiling air outlet. 

1. A ceiling air outlet for climate control systems, for installation at a distance below a room ceiling (1) of a room to be ventilated, having an, in particular, elongated supply air chamber (2) comprising at least one supply air inlet, and having at least one side chamber (7) located to the side of the supply air chamber (2) and separated from the supply air chamber (2) by a partition (8), at least one aperture (9), embodied in particular as a nozzle, for the inflow of supply air (arrow 10) from the supply air chamber (2) into the relevant side chamber (7) being provided in each partition (8), and each side chamber (7) having associated with it at least one heat exchanger (11) through which room air (arrow 12) is induced into the side chamber (7) as a result of induction by the supply air (arrow 10), and each side chamber (7) comprising at least one outlet opening (13), wherein each aperture (9) is embodied so that the flow of supply air (arrow 10) passing through it occurs at least approximately horizontally; the ceiling air outlet comprises, on the underside facing toward the room to be ventilated, a flat element (14) that covers the ceiling air outlet on the underside and is embodied to be impermeable to air; and each outlet opening (13) is oriented in alignment with its corresponding aperture(s) (9) so that the supply air (arrow 10) flowing through each aperture (9) is not, at least not substantially, deflected in the associated side chamber (7), the room air being induced from above the flat element (14), in particular in the upper region of the ceiling air outlet, for example from above the upper edge of the ceiling air outlet.
 2. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening (13) of at least one side chamber (7) is embodied as an outlet gap extending over the entire length.
 3. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein the supply air chamber (2) has a quadrangular, in particular square, cross section.
 4. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein in the context of at least one side chamber (7), the heat exchanger (11) is arranged at the upper edge of the side chamber (7).
 5. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein the flow cross section of at least one aperture (9) is modifiable.
 6. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein further components (17) such as lamps, fire detectors, or the like are arranged in the flat element (14).
 7. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein the ceiling air outlet is embodied trapezoidally, in particular to be wider at the bottom.
 8. The ceiling air outlet according to claim 1, wherein the flat element (14) is embodied in laterally protruding fashion. 